Month: June 2022

Fellowship of the Burning Heart

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Does your heart burn for God? Long for God? Do you long to know him better, to love him more fully, to follow him more faithfully, to trust him more completely? Do you deeply desire to live a God-centered life in which God is glorified and reflected in your daily thinking, speaking, and doing? If so, you already belong to the Fellowship of the Burning Heart.

Of course, no one, save the Lord Jesus Christ, can say that they fully desire any of those things, much less have arrived. The Apostle Paul himself didn’t presume to have arrived but knew he must continue to press toward the goal of such communion with God and conformity to the likeness of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Yet even the desire to desire God in such a way is a good thing.

There are some who have gone before us who have hungered and thirsted for God, (as well as for his Kingdom and righteousness), and they have shared a bit about their journey with those of us who would follow them down that path. That’s what these occasional posts, under “Burning Heart” will focus on. They will share snippets – bits and pieces – from those of the fellowship who’ve finished their pilgrimage to the Celestial City and now rest from their labor. What they have left behind for the rest of us is encouragement and wisdom to help us travel the same road. More importantly, they have exalted the King of that road and call upon us to do likewise.

This small effort will be nothing more than sharing brief devotional quotations and insights of the folks who have blessed me along my own journey. I’m quite certain ten different people could come up with ten completely differently lists. Those on my list may not all be your cup of tea, yet I do hope that you will find a little gold in the gravel. But if that is the case, then please find your own fellowship of the burning heart who can help encourage you and build you up for our journey.

“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart.” A.W. Tozer

We all desire that far green country. Let’s walk the path of those who have successfully gone before us and left a trail of breadcrumbs behind them.

The Sacraments

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The Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 25

65. Question: Since then faith alone makes us share in Christ and all His benefits, where does this faith come from?

Answer: From the Holy Spirit,[1] who works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel,[2] and strengthens it by the use of the sacraments.[3]

[1] John 3:5; I Cor. 2:10-14; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29. [2] Rom. 10:17; I Pet. 1:23-25. [3] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 10:16.

66. Question: What are the sacraments?

Answer: The sacraments are holy, visible signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by their use He might the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel.[1] And this is the promise: that God graciously grants us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life because of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.[2]

[1] Gen. 17:11; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 4:11 [2] Matt. 26:27, 28; Acts 2:38; Heb. 10:10.

67. Question: Are both the Word and the sacraments then intended to focus our faith on the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?

Answer: Yes, indeed. The Holy Spirit teaches us in the gospel and assures us by the sacraments that our entire salvation rests on Christ’s one sacrifice for us on the cross.[1]

[1] Rom. 6:3; I Cor. 11:26; Gal. 3:27.

68. Question: How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant?

Answer: Two: holy baptism and the holy supper.[1]

[1] Matt. 28:19, 20; I Cor. 11:23-26.

Prayer Journal: Week 25

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Pray as you can, for prayer doesn’t consist of thinking a great deal, but of loving a great deal.
(Saint Teresa of Avila)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
·         Psalm 32
·         Romans 5:12-19
·         Matthew 4:1-11

Adoration

Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (verse 1)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee.
thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
(Thomas Chisholm)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit (Psalm 32:1-2)

O Lord, Deliver me from everything that keeps me from loving you fully and completely. Deliver me from the desires, ambitions, and emotions that draw me away from serving you and pleasing you in all parts of my life. Deliver me from being half-hearted in my devotion to you, in my prayers and reading of your Word, and in my service to you. Keep my desire for you and for serving you ever growing, ever burning. Amen. (John Wesley)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

Beautiful Savior, we praise you for the free gift of salvation offered to us at great cost to you. We love and adore you for our redemption, grounded in the grace of the Person and Work of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of our sinfulness, Christ’s free gift brought our justification. We praise you for the active righteousness of our Savior, your Son. We thank you that he won our salvation, not only through his death and resurrection, but also through his life of perfect obedience. Thus, by faith, his righteousness becomes our own. That’s more that we can even comprehend, and vastly more than we deserve, but we glorify you for your goodness and grace. In his holy name we pray. Amen. (based on Romans 5:15-19)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.


Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Give me greater love for those who are hard to love.
·         Help me to be compassionate and kind to those in need, even when it’s inconvenient.
·         Pour out upon me your courage and boldness to love those who do not know you and to share with them your Gospel, in word and deed.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs


Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         My family and friends who do not have a saving relationship with Christ
·         For those in my other spheres of influence who do not know Christ
·         For evangelists around our city, country, and world who risk much in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are lost
·         Other needs

Help me today, my Lord, to discover your good, perfect, and acceptable will and to focus all of my desire and energy upon doing it. (Reuben Job)

Good Works

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The Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 24

62. Question: But why can our good works not be our righteousness before God, or at least a part of it?

Answer: Because the righteousness which can stand before God’s judgment must be absolutely perfect and in complete agreement with the law of God,[1] whereas even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.[2]

[1] Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10. [2] Is. 64:6.

63. Question: But do our good works earn nothing, even though God promises to reward them in this life and the next?

Answer: This reward is not earned[1]; it is a gift of grace.[2]

[1] Matt. 5:12; Heb. 11:6. [2] Luke 17:10; II Tim. 4:7, 8.

64. Question: Does this teaching not make people careless and wicked?

Answer: No. It is impossible that those grafted into Christ by true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.[1]

[1] Matt. 7:18; Luke 6:43-45; John 15:5.

Prayer Journal: Week 24

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Our prayers are only as powerful as our lives. In the long pull we pray only as well as we live. (A.W. Tozer)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Exodus 24:12-18
·         Psalm 99
·         2 Peter 1:16-21
·         Matthew 17:1-9

Adoration

Psalm 99:1-3
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
    He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
    he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
    Holy is he!

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (verse 1)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
(Joachim Neander)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

O Lord our God, you answered them;
    you were a forgiving God to them,
    but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the Lord our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for the Lord our God is holy! (Psalm 99:8-9)

Lord, so often as we come to you, the plea in our hearts is that you do our will and not for you to show us yours. So often our hearts have been closed to your leading and we have missed so many opportunities to be blessings to others and to be blessed ourselves. Forgive us, Lord, and help us have the courage to open our hearts to you. In Christ we pray. Amen. (James R. Wilson)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

Majestic and glorious Father, we give you our thanks and praise that you did not leave us to grope blindly through this dark world but have continually given us your light. We thank you for the way you have disclosed yourself and your will to us through the prophets and apostles. We are grateful that your Spirit filled, moved, and spoke through them so that what we now have in Holy Scripture is exactly what you want us to know about you and your ways. But most especially we worship and adore you for the Light of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank you that his light has become our light and because of him, we can truly see you, this world, and ourselves as you intend.For it is in the name of Christ, the Light of the world, we offer this prayer. Amen. (based on 2 Peter 1:16-21)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.

Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Give me greater knowledge, depth of insight, and understanding of God’s Word.
·         Remind me daily of who I am in Christ. Let me be defined by who God says I am, not the world around me.
·         Guide me into greater understanding and faithfulness of God’s call in my life.
·         Today’s events and interactions with others, planned and unplanned
·         Other needs

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)

·         My family
·         My pastor(s), church staff, and missionaries
·         Those wrestling with anger, anxiety, or the overwhelming desire to please people at all costs
·         Other needs
​
Gracious Lord, satisfy us with your love in the morning, and we will live this day in joy and praise.
(Daily Prayer)

A Prayer for Such a Time

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Gracious Lord, protect us from becoming so distraught by the sin and evil in this world that we believe prayer is ineffective. Restrain us from growing so accustomed to such wickedness that we accept it as normal. Instead, fill us with righteous anger toward it and a holy discernment that seeks to direct our principles and practices with godly wisdom. Guard our hearts and minds from a fear that paralyzes us with cowardice. Lead us as we minister to victims with love, mercy, and compassion, even as you fill them with your Spirit’s comfort, hope, and strength. Lord hear our prayer, in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

Righteous Before God

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The Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 23

59. Question: But what does it help you now that you believe all this?

Answer: In Christ I am righteous before God and heir to life everlasting.[1]

[1] Hab. 2:4; John 3:36; Rom. 1:17; 5:1, 2.60. 

Question: How are you righteous before God?

Answer: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.[1] Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, have never kept any of them,[2] and am still inclined to all evil,[3] yet God, without any merit of my own,[4] out of mere grace,[5] imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ.[6] He grants these to me as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me,[7] if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.[8]

[1] Rom. 3:21-28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9; Phil. 3:8-11. [2] Rom. 3:9, 10. [3] Rom. 7:23. [4] Deut. 9:6; Ezek. 36:22; Tit. 3:4, 5. [5] Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8. [6] Rom. 4:3-5; II Cor. 5:17-19; I John 2:1, 2. [7] Rom. 4:24, 25; II Cor. 5:21. [8] John 3:18; Acts 16:30, 31; Rom. 3:22.

61. Question: Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?

Answer: Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, for only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God.[1] I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.[2]

[1] I Cor. 1:30, 31; 2:2. [2] Rom. 10:10; I John 5:10-12.